Ireland beat Pakistan in opening women’s T20 match

Dublin’s first Twenty20 international

Ireland 142 (19.4 overs): Hunter 37, Prendergast 29, Fatima 4-26

Zimbabwe 131-9 (20 overs): Natalia 29, Rameen 27, Prendergast 3-28

Ireland defeated 11 runs to win.

At Dublin’s Clontarf Cricket Club, Ireland defeated Pakistan’s rally to defeat them in the first of three-game women’s twenty-one international series by 11 runs.

The hosts continued their momentum with a winning start to this latest series after defeating Zimbabwe 3-3 last month.

Amy Hunter posted 37 before being bowled by Nashra Sandhu, who then took the toss and took Ireland into bat.

Before Sana made the catch from Rameen Shamim, the hosts had only managed one of their four wickets when Fatima Sana took the first of her four wickets, but the 29-year-old player of the match Orla Prendergast kept Ireland ticking.

Sadia Iqbal took Leah Paul’s wicket before Sana removed Laura Delany, who had only hit Ireland’s six, for 28 while Sadia Iqbal took her wicket.

Ireland’s innings appeared to be collapsing when Diana Baig removed Rebecca Stokell on 12, but they did so with a target of 142.

As Muneeba Ali took her first of three wickets, Pakistan’s innings started slowly with a five-run partnership.

Jane Maguire defeated Gull Feroza for five as she won her 50th game, but Sidra Ameen and Aliya Riaz both recorded double figures before being defeated by Ava Canning and Cara Murray, respectively.

Natalia Pervaiz hit 29, which included only six of her side, before Prendergast finished her afternoon, which was followed by Pakistan’s middle-class.

Before Sana and Shamim combined for 14 on 27 and fell to Maguire as Pakistan’s hopes of a successful rally waned, Sana and Shamim combined for 27.